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Recreational Charities Act 1958 meaning
What does Recreational Charities Act 1958 mean?
In charity law practice, this Act is relied on to secure charitable status for organisations that provide community and leisure facilities. The Recreational Charities Act 1958 confirms—retrospectively—that providing, or assisting in the provision of, facilities for recreation or other leisure‑time occupation is charitable where done in the interests of social welfare. In England and Wales it applies alongside the Charities Act 2011: the facilities must aim to improve conditions of life and either (a) be for people who need them by reason of youth, age, infirmity, disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances, or (b) be available to the public at large or a sufficient section of it. The public benefit requirement continues to apply.
Practitioners use the Act when drafting objects and advising on charity registration for village halls, community centres, playing fields, parks and amateur sports facilities, and when validating historic gifts and land covenants.
Jurisdictional position:
- England and Wales: Act in force and frequently cited.
- Scotland: equivalent provision in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
- Northern Ireland: equivalent statutory treatment under Northern Ireland charity legislation.
- Ireland: no direct counterpart; charitable recognition for recreational facilities depends on the Charities Act 2009 and public benefit,...
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View the related Practice Notes about Recreational Charities Act 1958
PRACTICE NOTES
UK Charity Regulation: Regulators in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; Charity Commission powers, First-tier Tribunal appeals, registration requirements and Charitable Incorporated Organisations
Charity regulators in the UK The Charities Act 2011 (CA 2011) became law on 14 March 2012 and determines the registration and oversight of all charities in England and Wales. It supersedes most provisions of the Recreational Charities Act 1958, and the earlier Charities Acts of 1992, 1993, and 2006. By consolidating four Acts into a single statute, CA 2011 aims to simplify the legal landscape. Together with subordinate regulations and the accounting Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), CA 2011 establishes the regulatory framework for charities in England and Wales. Guidance and policies produced, for example, by the Charity Commission for England and Wales (the Commission), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and Companies House are also influential across practice. In Scotland, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 sets the parameters within which Scottish charities operate, including regulation, the charity test, and a range of administrative and supervisory requirements. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) serves as the independent regulator and registrar for Scottish charities. In...
29 May
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PRACTICE NOTES
Charity Registration in England and Wales: Duties, Exemptions, Structures and the Charity Commission Application Process
The Charity Commission for England and Wales The Charity Commission for England and Wales (the Commission) was formally set up following the Charities Act 1960 (ChA 1960). Its remit and authority were subsequently strengthened by the Charities Act 1993 and the Charities Act 2006. The Charities Act 2011 (CA 2011) took effect on 14 March 2012; it replaces most of the Charities Acts 1992, 1993 and 2006, and the whole of the Recreational Charities Act 1958. The Commission operates from four offices in London, Liverpool, Taunton and Newport. For all charities, the initial point of contact is Charity Commission Direct (based at the Liverpool office); each charity is then thereafter routed to the office with the appropriate and relevant expertise for its particular needs accordingly...
21 May
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